Metal sheet handling apparatus



April 7, 1959 E P. H. 'sscHoNlE v2,880,846

METAL SHEET HANDLINGEPPAEATUS Filed June 28, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 III/111111 d E P. H. SCHONE METAL. SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS April 7, 1959 Filed June 28, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I HQMHCf/aA/E INVENTOR.

April 7, 1959 P; H. scHoNE v 2,880,846

METAL SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 28, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 -f-rf INVENTOR. @aL//ae/a/VE @Trams/5y April 7, 1959 P. H. scHoNE 2,880,846

METAL SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 2s, 195'/ 4 sheets-sheet 4 @gli Il Hll - INVENTOR. /w MEZA/@N5 aff United States Patent METAL SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Paul H. Schone, Bergenleld, NJ., assignor to National- Standard Company, a corporation of Michigan Application June 28, 1957, Serial No. 668,777 2 Claims. (Cl. 198-102) and this is usually done by means of chain conveyors.

The sheets so moved are required to be halted at the entrance to the drying chamber or oven in order that the same may be picked up by wickets carried by the conveyor which transports the sheets through the oven. It is therefore desirable that means be provided for not only effectively and accurately positioning the sheets at the pick-up point after they leave the coating apparatus to enable them to be engaged and moved by chainv conveyors, but to provide means for halting each sheet at a given pick-up location at the entrance to the drying chamber or oven, to permit each sheet to be received upon a wicket of the conveyor that carries the sheets through the chamber.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a halting or braking means by which the forward movement of each sheet will be gradually slowed down and the sheet halted in position for pick-up by the conveyor of the drying chamber, and without hard impingement of the sheet against any parts of the conveyor. It is an object of the invention to provide magnetic means operable in conjunction witha conveyor and adapted for moving the sheets and positioning them for engagement by lugs on the conveyor to cause the sheets, by such engagement, to be moved.

It is an object of the invention to provide a magnetic braking means operable upon moving metallic sheets or plates and controlled in a manner to enable each sheet so moved to be halted at a predetermined position for engagement by a conveyor element.

With these, and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, I have devised the arrangement of parts to be described and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, in diagrammatic form showing the chain conveyor and the driving means there for;

Fig. 3 is a detail view, with parts'in section showing how one of the sheets to be dried is picked up by a wicket of the drying chamber conveyor and moved thereby;

Fig. 4 is a top planl view, with parts in section of the magnetic rollers and associated parts, at the entrance end of the transporting conveyor;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 6 is a sectional view" of the switching means for controlling the electro-magnets, and the driving means therefor;

2,880,846 Patented Apr. 7, 1959 ice Fig. 7 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 7--7 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the electro-magnets, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The apparatus to which the present invention relates is primarily, although not necessarily, used for the transport of relatively large coated metallic sheets or plates from a coating apparatus to a drying chamber or oven and involves the employment of chain conveyors which aided by magnetic rollers, engage the coated sheets at the egress end of the coating apparatus and rapidly move the same successively to the entrance end of the drying chamber or oven, where each sheet is picked up by a wicket on the oven conveyor and moved through the oven. In Fig. 2 of the drawing, the outlet end of the coating apparatus is shown at 1, and the chain conveyor which moves the sheets from said end and consisting of two chains is indicated at 2. The chain conveyor 2 moves the sheets, one of which is shown at 3 in Fig. l, toward the right, to the entrance end 4 of the drying oven or chamber 5, where the sheet is picked up by one of the wickets 6 of the oven conveyor 7 that is movable through the oven or drying chambers and carries these sheets therethrough. The sheets 3 are of magnetizable metal so that magnetic means to be hereafter described will attract the sheets.

The means for driving the two conveyor chains 2, consists of a motor 8 (Fig. 2), suitably mounted on a base 10 forming part of the lower portion of the frame 10a of the apparatus, and which drives a chain 9 that extends around a sprocket 11. The shaft 12v on which sprocket 11 is mounted, also carries sprockets 13 engaged by the chains 2. Chains 2 are provided with uniformly spaced-apart lugs 14 which engage against the edges of the sheets 3 and thus move the sheets along toward the right and in the known manner of chain conveyors. The chains 2 extend around idlers 15, 16 and 17 and pass under and engage sprockets 18 secured on a cross shaft 19, rotatable in suitable bearings, one of which is shown at 20 in Fig. 4, mounted on the side frame elements 21 and 22 of the frame 10a of the apparatus. Chains 2 then proceed around sprockets 23 which are loose on a cross shaft 24 extending parallel to the shaft 19 and located relatively close thereto. At the opposite end of the frame of the conveying apparatus, the chains 2 extend around sprockets 25 on a cross shaft 26. This arrangement is such that the chains 2 operate to rotate cross shaft 19 through the sprockets 18 secured on said shaft.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be noted that at one end of the shaft 19 there is secured a two-part pulley or sheave 28 having its two sections or halves normally urged together in facial contact by means of a coil spring 29 surrounding the end portion of the shaft 19. The spring 29 is confined between a cup member 30 surrounding the shaft 19 and the hub 31 of one of the halves of the pulley. Extending around pulley 28 is a V-belt 32 which is engaged by an idler pulley 33 and also by a pulley 34, the latter pulley being mounted on the shaft 24. Fromthis arrangement, it will be apparent that since 'the shaft 19 is rotated by chains 2 acting on sprockets 18, the connection with shaft 24 through the belt 32 will result in shaft 24 being also rotated.

Since it isv at times desirable to regulate the speed of magnetic rollers on shafts 19 and 24, the means for providing for this is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. At 35 is provided a housing secured to the side frame member 21 and mounted for vertical rotative adjustment in the housing is a shaft 36 carrying a worm 37 (Fig. 5). Provided at the top of the rotative shaft 36 is a hand-wheel 77 by means of which the shaft 36 and the worm 37 thereon may be rotatively moved. The worm 37 meshes with a toothed segment 38^secured on -a hub 39 lof an larm 40 rotative around a boss 43 .provided on the housing 35. At `its free end, the arm carries a stud on which the idler pulley 33v is rotative. By' lthis arrangement 'it will be seen that the manual rotative movement ofthe shaft 36 by' turning handwheel 77 in jthe proper direction, will cause the arm 40 to be "swung downwardly to thereby ldraw the belt downwardly, las' shown -in dotted lines in Fig. 5. This movement of the belt will force the belt between the halves of the pulley 28 to an extent required, thus reducing 'the yeffective driving size of the pulley and will vary its 'drive ratio in respect to the pulley Y34 on shaft 24. By this rmeans the speed 'of feed of the sheets at the entrance yend of the conveyor by the -mag- `net'ic rollers y4S and 46 may be increased or decreased as `required according to isheet lengths or other requirements.

Secured on 'theshaft 24 is a plurality -of vthe permanent magnetic 'rollers 45 anda pluralityofnimilar, butof larger diameter, permanent magnetic rollers l46 are -freely rotative on shaft 19. The rollers 46V are rotated by means of chains 47 engaging'sprockets 48 provided on the rollers 46, and which chaiusare Idriven by :sprockets 49 secured on thes'haft 24. d

As each metal sheet 3 leaves the coating apparatus 1 and the forwardend portion of the sheet reaches and contacts with "the magnetic rollers 45, these rollers will move the sheet toward the right, i't'being `next engaged by the magnetic rollers 46 and its movement continues until the lugs 14 on the conveyor chainsz engage against the rear edge of the sheet and continue `the sheet on its movement toward theright as viewed in Figs. l andp2. As the sheet isthus moved valong 'bythe conveyor chains 2, it is maintained in proper alignment and prevented from lateral disalignment by Vmeans of aplurality of permanent magnets 50 over which the sheet passes and which are mounted in longitudinally4extending supporting bars 51 provided in the apparatus frame.

When the sheet 3, moved towardI the right as above described, reaches the entrance 4end 4 of the drying chamber 5, its movement must be halted ata pick-up point to enable it to be picked up by one lof the wickets 6 of the drying chamber conveyor 7. For this purpose-a magnetic braking means is provided, and it will now be described. l

As the forward portion of the sheet 3 starts to enter the entrance to the drying chamber 5, it passes over supporting plates 53 and over a triangulated housing 54 secured by screws 54a to one of the frame members 10a, lcontaining and forming part of a gang of electro-magnets 55 which are arranged to befenergized and deeenergized at predetermined ltimes to thereby magnetically slovv down or brake the forward movement of each sheet 3 causing the sheet to be halted in pick-up position by one of .the wickets 6. .The poles of the magnets are respectively formed by the elements indicated at 56 and 57 in Fig. 8. The means for causing vthe ke'nergization and de-energizat'ion ofthe magnets 55 in properly-timed relation to the movement of sheets 3, is shown in Figs. 6 and '7, and it will be therein noted that a shaft 60 forming a part of thedry'ing chamber conveyor, and which is suitably rotated in the known manner, has one end rotative in a housing-61, which end carries a gear 62 engaging apinion 63 on the shaft 64 of fa Selsyn drive 65 connected into lanelectric .circuit by which the magnets 55 are controllably energized at predeterminedintervals and which circuit .also .contains means by which the magnetic force exerted by these magnets can be regulated.

Carried by the shaft V64.1is an adjustable two-part cam 66, having its high portion regulatable as to position by means of the slots 67 and the bolts 68. Said cam 66 engages a roller @carried by a switch-`operating arm 76, -pivoted at 71. The switch operated by the movements of the arm 70 is shown at 72, and the same is embodied in an electrical circuit extending from a source of current `to the magnets 55. This arrangement is such that the cam will cause opening and closing of the switch 72 at predetermined times so that the magnets, when energized, will magnetically engage each sheet 3 as it is moved from conveyor chains 2, and will gradually bring it to a halt without jar or violent impingement against any parts of the wickets 6. Then the magnets will be de-energized at the approximate moment of pick-up by a wicket, thereby allowing the sheet to be picked up and carried away through the drying chamber. Thiswill be apparent from Fig. 3 wherein the jsheet 3 has reached its final position and is in readiness to be picked up by the wicket indicated at 6a which is then located just below the sheet. It is at this time that the `magnets 55 become de-energized and the wicket 6a rises in the direction of the arrows 6b in Fig. 3 to carry the sheet away and on its trip through the drying chamber. As will be noted in Fig. 1 each of the wickets 6 -is provided with a V-shaped opening or recess extended inwardly from its free end enalbling it to clear the magnet Ihousing 54.

Briey, the operation of the described sheet-handling apparatus is as follows:

Each sheet or plate 3, leaving rthe coating apparatus 1, is magnetically engaged by the magnetic rollers 45 and then moved to position for engagement by the magnetic rollers 46. These rollers move the sheet until the lugs 14 on the chains engage against the end of the sheet and then move it valong the apparatus toward the right, while the position of the sheet in such movement is maintained by means of the stationary magnets 50. When the forward end portion of the sheet reaches the electro-magnets 55, these magnets are Venergized and they then magnetically act upon the sheet gradually braking or slowing down its forward movement to such an extent that when the forward edge ofthe sheet reaches the position of that shown in Fig. 3*, the magnetic attraction exerted by the magnets 55 has halted the sheet in this pick-up position, or has positioned the sheet in the proper position over one of the upwardly moving wickets, vor that shown at 6a in Fig. 3. When this position of halt of the sheet -3 is reached, the cam 66, acting on switch arm 70 shuts oir current to the magnets and hence the wicket 6a can now readily lift the sheet and carry it off through the drying chamber 5.

The described apparatus is such that it can be used for the transport of any other articles of magnetizable material, and which can be moved at high speeds, and which will be halted smoothly and without jarring or impinging against abutments likely to damage them.4

Having described a single embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

l. In an apparatus for transporting metallic sheets, a chain conveyor, magnetic rollers associated therewith for positioning a sheet for engagement by the chain conveyor, xed magnets arranged along the path of travel of the sheet for maintaining the sheet in alignment during travel, a second conveyor to which the sheets are brought by the rst conveyor, the second conveyor having wickets for elevating the sheet at a pick-up point beyond the end of travel of the rst conveyor, the wickets each having a recess extending inwardly from its free end, electromagnetic means at said pick-up pointand positioned to be cleared by the recess of each wicket during movement ofthe second conveyor, said electro-magnetic means being etective to magnetically engage the sheet while the same is in movement and apply a magnetic braking force on the sheet to cause the same to be brought gradually to a position of halt at the pick-up point, and means operative to cause the electro-magnetic means to be de-energized when it has halted each sheet, thereby enabling the sheet .to be picked up by a wicket on the second conveyor.

2. In an apparatus for transporting metallic sheets, a chain conveyor, magnetic rollers associated therewith for positioning a sheet for engagement by the chain conveyor, means for rotatively driving said magnetic rollers at regulatable speeds, said driving means including pulleys having a drive belt extending between them, one of the pulleys being composed of halves resiliently maintained in contact, means for moving the belt in a manner to determine the extent to which it enters between the halves of the pulley to thereby vary the effective driving size of the pulley, a second conveyor to which the sheets are brought by the chain conveyor, said second conveyor having wickets, each of the wickets being notched inwardly from its free end, a plurality of electro-magnets positioned between the conveyors and located in position to tit within the notches of the wickets thereof, said electro-magnets being eectve to apply a braking force on each of the sheets to cause the same to be brought to a halt on top of a wicket, and means for de-encrgizing the electro-magnets upon halt of each of the sheets on top of a wicket.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,176,761 Fisher et al Oct. 17, 1939 2,373,149 Strickler Apr. 10, 1945 2,395,599 Webb et al.` Feb. 26, 1946 2,604,971 Snyder July 29, 1952 2,648,420 Best et al. Aug. 11, 1953 2,767,823 Beamish Cct. 23, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 807,080 Germany June 25. 1951 

